BEYAZIT TOWER

Beyazit Tower is located in the garden of Istanbul University and was used as a watch tower of sighting the outbreak of fires.

Built of wood in 1749, it was damaged, paradoxically, by fire and then torn down. It was rebuilt in 1878 by the edict of Sultan Mahmud II. The architect was Senekerim Balyan.

The 85 meter tower has a roof made of stone and a wooden staircase. It is still used as a watchtower today as well as for gathering meteorological data.

 

CEMBERLITAS BANDED COLUMN

Located on the Divanyolu in the district to which it has given its name, Çemberlitas, this column was brought to Istanbul from the Temple of Apollo by Constantinus I (B.C. 324-327). The column was topped by a statue of Apollo and, according to pagan tradition, he clasped a javelin in one hand and a cross in the other. The statue was struck by lighting and destroyed, later replaced by a marble cross.

The cross was removed during the Ottoman period but the column was left untouched. Sultan Mustafa II re-enforced the column with iron bands and built the pedestal on which it still stands today.

The 35 meter high column is thought to contain relics belonging to Jesus Christ.

OBELISQUE (DIKILITAS)

The Obelisque is found in Sultanahmet Square but was originally erected in Egypt by Pharaoh Tutmosis III. It was brought to Istanbul by Theodosius I in 390. The Column is 19.59 meters high, made of pink granite and illustrates the battle victories of the Pharaoh on its four sides. The western face of the pedestal contains a representation of Theodosius I seated on this throne, his wife and children at his side, receiving ambassadors.

 

DOLMABAHCE CLOCK TOWER

The Dolmabahce Clock Tower was built by Sultan Abdulhamid II between the years 1890-1895 and can be seen at the entryway to the Dolmabahce Palace. It was designed by the palace architect Sarkis Balyan in the Neo-baroque and Ottoman styles.

It is a 27 meter high four-storey structure on two sides of which Sultan Abdulhamid's monogram can be seen.

The Paul Garnier Clock was installed by clockmaker Johann Meyar and was partially electronicised in 1979. It still works today.

ETFAL (CHILDREN'S) HOSPITAL CLOCK TOWER

The Etfal Hospital Clock Tower was built by Sultan Abdulhamid II in the Hamidiye Etfal Hospital (now the Sisli Etfal Hospital). The architect was Mehmed Sukru Bey. It was built on a 150 square meter area and is 20 meters high. Marble and Hereke stone were used. Its front face contains an inscription of the monogram of Sultan Abdulhamid II.

 

 

GALATA TOWER

The Galata Tower is found on a hilltop overlooking the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. It was built by the Genoese in 1348 as the chief tower in the city walls of Galata. After suffering heavy damage in a great earthquake in 1509, the tower was repaired by Architect Hayreddin. The tower is therefore Turkish-made from 13 meters up.Also used as a dungeon, the tower was mostly used as a look out place to spot the outbreak of fires. The city was continuously surveyed and upon the sighting of a fire the public were warned by the beating of a large drum. The 62 meter-high tower (65.9 with the flag-staff) is now a popular tourist attraction, with facilities including a restaurant on the top floor. The balcony ringing the top floor affords a panoramic view of Istanbul and is an ideal place to observe the city.

Hazerfan Ahmed Celebi

Hazerfen Ahmed Celebi was a most interesting character living in Istanbul in the seventeenth century.

He succeeded in flying in a contraption he invented himself. His first tests took place in Okmeydani (A historical Istanbul Square where archery practices held) Later he managed to fly unsethed from Galata tower to Uskudar in his amazing rocket propelled contraption. He was rewarded by Sultan Murad IV who watched the flight from Saray Burnu just below the Topkapi Palace.

The only source of information on Hazerfan Ahmed Celebi is in the writings of Evliya Celebi who wrote that although the Sultan rewarded this feat, he considered the ability to fly a danger and had the aviator exiled to Algeria where he later died.

GOTLAR COLUMN

The Gotlar Column is found in Gulhane Park and is thought to have been built in the 4th century. It was erected after a military victory over the Goths.

The column is 15 meters high and rests on a three-step pedestal. The column is carved from a single piece of stone and decorated only by a corinth containing an eagle relief.

KIZ KULESI (MAIDEN'S TOWER)

Built on a small rocky island in the middle of the sea near Uskudar, where the Marmara Sea meets the Bosphorus, the Kiz Kulesi (Maiden's Tower, also called Leander's Tower) has been used for a variety of purposes since its first construction. First, this small island was used to control the navy traffic and as a custom's office in 411 B.C.. In the 12th century, the Byzantines used it to project the Bosphorus and they built a defence tower on the island. Although the Ottoman Empire continued to use it for the same reason after the conquest of Istanbul, Sultan Mehmed, the Conqueror replaced the old tower with a new one.

During the golden years of the Ottoman Empire, the tower was used as a lighthouse, and, on special occasions, was used to salute the guests of the Sultans with gun shots.

The tower was completely destroyed by a fire in 1716. The Prime Minister Nevsehirli Damat Ibrahim Pasha built today's tower in 1725-25, through in 1943 its wooden walls were replaced by concrete.

With its white color and its sliced Baroque dome with a flagstaff on top of the dome, it's a very striking spectacle.

It has become a symbol of Istanbul, and is one of the first things which comes to one's mind about this city and has been the subject of many paintings and pictures. It has recently been renovated and will soon be opened for sightseeing.

KIZTASI (MAIDEN'S ROCK)

Located in Fatih, Kiztasi, the Maiden's Rock, was built during the reign of Emperor Marcianus between 450-457. The 17 meter-high granite column rests upon a three-step pedestal. The corinth is decorated with a relief depicting angels.

NUSRETIYE CLOCK TOWER

Located in Tophane on Meclisi Mebusan Street, the Nusretiye Clock Tower was built by Sultan Abdulmecid next to the Nusretiye Mosque. Designed in the neo-classical style, it is 15 meters high and above the entrance the monogram of Abdulmecid can be seen. Having now fallen into a state of disrepair the original clock and clock face have not survived, and are still awaiting replacements.

 

ORMESUTUN (COLUMN OF CONSTANTINE) 

Located in Sultanahnet Square, the Orme Column was originally built in the 4th and 5th century, fell into ruin, and was repaired by Constantine VII in 944. The Column was built of dressed stone, is 20,68 meters high and rests on a 1,60 meter high pedestal.

 

YILANLI SUTUN (SERPENT COLUMN)

The Yilanli Column is found in Sultanahmet Square. After the victory of the Greeks against the Persians, the Temple of Apollo was erected in 479 B.C. It was built of metal obtained from weapons confiscated during the war and melted down. Later, in the reign of Constantine I (324-327 A.D.), it was brought to Istanbul. It has the shape of entwined serpents, whose heads look out in three different directions. The names of the 31 Greek city-states that participated in the war are etched upon the snakes.The column was originally 8 meters high, but is only 5.30 meters high today and the heads of the serpents are missing.

YILDIZ CLOCK TOWER

Built by Sultan Abdulhamid II in 1890 in the garden of the Yildiz Hamidiye Mosque, the Yildiz Clock Tower is an octagonal three-storey structure. The first floor has four seperate inscriptions, the second floor contains a thermometer and barometer; the top floor is a clock room, and there is a compass rose on the roof. The clock was repaired in 1993.